Wood accuse Ferrier's representatives of 'aggressive bullying'

Morgan Ferrier's agent has been pushing hard to force a move for the striker. Picture: Action Images

Boreham Wood have done their bit to clamp down on unscrupulous agents by taking the unusual step of publicly airing their grievances following threats made against the club by an individual purportedly claiming to the be the agent of star striker Morgan Ferrier.

These incidents involving the player’s representatives have been labelled as ‘aggressive bullying’ by the Meadow Park side, a chain of events that followed a string of reported approaches for Ferrier.

In a piece published on the club website last week, The Wood announced that Ferrier’s release clause is set at £35k but that they are wholly unwilling to part with the player unless it is on their terms – even alluding to attempts by those representing the striker to flaunt the 23-year-old to would-be suitors without going through the club first.

It read: “Boreham Wood Football Club wish to announce to all clubs interested, that our much sought after striker Morgan Ferrier has a £35k buyout clause in his contract.

“We feel our football club needs to go public, as Morgan now has new representation and that representation is openly touting our contracted player and his release clause to manufacture a move.”

They have since added to their initial statement, however, to document in some detail how the relationship with Ferrier’s new agent has now deteriorated further.

The initial issue arose after Ferrier – a club record £18,000 addition from Dagenham & Redbridge in February – was subject to an approach from League Two side Tranmere Rovers that matched his £35,000 release clause.

However, the club suggest that after negotiations this summer between the player, his agent, and Tranmere manager Micky Mellon, Ferrier opted against a move and instead requested additional responsibilities within the Wood dressing room. In other words neither party, the club insist, committed any wrongdoing.

Indeed, Boreham Wood have gone on record to defend the behaviour of Ferrier’s former agent Leon Anderson who they insist “was diligent, honest, respectful, and always had his client’s best interests at heart.” Their protestations, in other words, solely concern those now working on behalf of the player.

Things allegedly took a dramatic, yet unwelcome, turn when manager Luke Garrard reportedly received an aggressive phone call on Sunday, July 15 from Ferrier’s new representatives who made it clear they would do whatever it took to break the terms of their client’s contract.

Further threats were then lodged where the individual in question was said to have warned Boreham Wood that non-compliance with his wishes would – as the club website stated – “open up a can of worms” and would result in investigations by “the football authorities about our football club, about our manager, and about our chairman”.

The Wood have since confirmed they have, in the last week, turned down a bid for Ferrier from League One outfit AFC Wimbledon because the approach did not meet the clauses outlined in the striker’s contract and was considerably less than the offer made by Tranmere.

While apologising for making what many might consider a private matter public, the lengthy statement alluded to Boreham Wood being one of many sides who have had to endure similar tales of agents and agent representatives using forces of intimidation to manipulate and bully football clubs.

It said: “We absolutely apologise to the football world for airing our dirty washing in public. But we believe that there is the need to bring this type of behaviour into the public domain. As it is important and it’s high time that all non-league clubs began standing up to this agent/intermediary intimidation.

“It’s now time that these unscrupulous people – as it’s not all agents – are taken to task. As they need to be regulated and this intimidation must be reported – we need to stop these intermediaries/representatives behaving in such a shoddy way and we need to get this problem highlighted. And put onto every non-league management committee’s agenda this season to sort out the problem…”

Denouncing the “scaremongering” that has developed exclusively in the couple of weeks, the Hertfordshire side insist they will not bow to pressure and ended with a simple message – ‘football must win this one’.

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here